Braiding carrier



Feb. 16, 1937. J. AL- COOK BRAfDING CARRIER Fi1ed Feb. 1, 1955 s SheetsSheet 1 Plus--54- FIE--11.-

7 INVENTOR:

Jzids 014 21.- oolc B Feb. 16, 1.937. I COOK 1 2,071,111

BRAIDING CARRIER Filed Feb. 1, 1935 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATYURNE.

Feb. 16, 1937. J. A. cooK BRAIDING CARRIER Filed Feb. 1, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES BRAIDING CARRIER Judson A. Cook, Haledon, N. J., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., 2. corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 1,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to braiding machines, and particularly to the bobbin carriers or spool carriers for these machines.

It is well known, that in braiding machines, the carriers move past each other, along intersecting paths or race-ways. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past especially with the slackening of the threads upon the carriers moving from the peripheral race-ways to points directly below the braiding center. This often re sults in knotted threads, broken threads, and other defects in operation.

It is an object of this invention to overcome these defects, and to provide a device which is so dependent upon the proper co-operation and coordination of its respectively moving parts, that it will not operate or will stop automatically if and when the parts become disarranged or the threads become inadvertently entangled.

A further object is to provide means whereby the threads are consistently held taut and upon becoming loose, immediately rewind upon their respectively associated bobbins.

Another object is to provide means, in addition to the usual tension-control weight or spring lever, which means is responsive to actuation by the weight or lever for effectively stopping the machine.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that is simple and durable in construction, economical to make, and effective in its operation.

Still another object is to provide means for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation of a yarn bobbin and to provide for'release of excessive energy when a determined maximum has been reached.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of bobbin, spool, or thread carrier by which uniform tension on the braiding threads will be maintained throughout the whole of the braiding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide each of the thread carriers with an automatic thread-retrieving mechanism of novel construction whereby a substantially uniform tension will be maintained during the movements of the thread carriers between their extreme outermost and innermost positions with respect to the braiding point of the machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide each of the thread carriers with an automatic thread let-off mechanism whereby the uniformity of tension is maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide 1935, Serial No. 4,462

a combined bobbin-brake and stop motion actuating means on each thread carrier to prevent free running of the spool in the event of depletion of the bobbin or breaking of the thread, and at the same time actuate the stop motion device to bring the machine to rest.

These, and other and further, objects and purposes will become obvious to those versed in the related arts upon reading the following detailed description of one embodiment of this invention illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, wherein:'

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the invention on a thread carrier;

Figure 2 is a face view of the thread carrier illustrated in Fig. 1, seen when looking at the apparatus of Fig. 1 but from the left, and with a portion of the mechanism shown in section:

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view, partly elevational, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the thread carrier showing certain of the elements in different positions from those illustrated in Fig. 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the upper portion of the section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional elevational view, similar to Fig. 4, but showing certain of the elements in different positions from those illustrated in Fig. 4;

Figure 10 is a sectional elevational View, similar to Fig. 9, but showing certain of the elements in still different positions from those illustrated in Fig. 9; and

Figure 11 is a sectional elevation view of the upper portion of the section taken on the line ll--H of Fig. 1.

'In all of the drawings corresponding numerals indicate similar or corresponding parts, and where repeated, these numbers have been added in order to more clearly indicate the association and interrelationship of the various parts.

Referring now, more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the carrier 30 is shown as comprisinga base-plate 3l' having a lower surface 32 adapted to bear on and slide over the upper surface of the race-plate 3, the base being of suflicient area to support the carrier in'a vertical position. 1

is a laterally elongated tongue, heart or fin member 33 which rides in the slot constituting the race-way Hi, the tongue 33 being pointed at each of its opposite ends as illustrated at 34, 34, Fig. 1, to guide the tongue or fin and consequently the carrier 30 across the slot intersections of the race-way Ill and around the arcuate connecting and terminal portions of the race-ways, whereby each carrier will be confined to the race-way to which it is originally assigned.

Secured to the lower end of the tongue 33 is a second confining or guide plate 35 which is provided with an upper surface 36 arranged to engage and slide on the under surface of the race-plate 3, whereby vertical movement of the carriers 38 relative to the race-plate is limited or eliminated entirely.

Below the plate 35 each carrier is provided with a stud 31 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 38. Each roller 38 is provided with a central or hub portion 39 which is fitted to and revolves about the stud 31. Encircling the hub section 39 in each instance is an outer rim section 48 concentrically arranged with respect to the hub section 39 and which in the present instance is spaced therefrom by rollers 4| which are retained in position by the inturned flanges 48a, 46a formed from the opposite edges of the rim section 48.

The assembled roller 38 in each instance is maintained in a definite position on the carrier stud 31 by a plate 42 which is secured to the stud 31 by a suitable screw or bolt 43.

The rollers 38 provide a meansfor moving the carriers 30 over the surface of the race-plate 3 by means of their coaction with horn portions ml of the horn gears Hill. The horn gears I00 are rotatably supported by studs 26, in turn, secured to a bed plate I, see Figs. 1 and 2.

Projecting substantially vertically from the base 3| of each carrier 30 is a pair of laterally spaced standards 45, 45a, the upper convergent ends 46 of which are integrally connected by a boss 41, the axis of which is substantially in alignment with the axis of the stud 31.

The boss 41 is provided with an eye 48 composed of hardened metal, porcelain, or other material resistant to the wear caused by the friction of the braiding or binding thread, which is carried by each carrier 30, in passing from the carrier to the braiding point of the machine.

The braiding or binding thread in each instance is wound on a spool 58 and between the flanges 5| and 52. This spool is rotatably mountedon a readily removable horizontally disposed spindle or bobbin axle 53 supported at its opposite ends respectively in the uprights 45, 45a. -of the carrier 30. The horizontally disposed spindle 53 is adapted to be readilyremoved from the carrier in order that empty spools may be replaced by full ones when necessary.

That end of the spindle 53 which is supported by the upright 45 is axially aligned with and passes through a bearing 54 which is fixed to the standard 45 by a lock nut 55. This bearing 54 functions as a support for the hub 56 of a drum 51. The drum-51 is provided with an inturned flange or rim 58 which is circumferentially grooved at 59 to receive a brake band 68.

"- Intermediate the drum 51 and the flange 52 3 of -thespool. 50 and mounted for rotation about the axis ofthe spindle 53 is a normally freely rotatabledisc 6| Secured in and extending laterally from one side of the disc 6| is a pin 62 which projects into an opening 63 formed in the flange 52 of the spool 50, by which the disc and the spool are locked together.

Projecting laterally from the opposite side of the disc 6| and into the open side of the drum 51 is a pin 64, Figs. 4, 9, 10, which provides an anchorage for one end of a flat spirally wound spring 66. The opposite end 61 of thisspring is anchored to a pin 68 carried by the hub 56 of the drum 51. This spring is normally wound in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 and through means of the potential energy stored therein, tends to ro tate the drum 51 in one direction and the disc 6| in the opposite direction. Thus, because of the connection between the disc 6| and the spool 50, the

spring tends to rotate the spool 50 in a reverse di ection, namely in the direction of rotation opposite to that in which the spool turns when it is unwinding thread.

, Normally rotation of the drum 51 is prevented-by the brake band 68, which is tensioned by spring 14. The rotation of spool 58, and consequently of the disc 6| through the spring 66, is normally resisted by the thread passing from the spool to the brading point of the machine through the eye 48 of the carrier 38. Thus the spring 66 produces a predetermined tension on the thread.

Figs. 9 and 10 respectively illustrate the positioning of the spring 65 during operative and idle positions of the bobbin 58.

One end 69 of the brake band 60 is rigidly anchored to the standard 45 of the carrier 30 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The opposite end 10, Fig. 4, of the brake band 60 is secured to a plunger 1| which is slidably mounted in a lug 12. The lug 12 extends laterally from the standard 45 and in the present instance is formed as an integral part of the standard. The free end of the plunger 1| is provided with lock nuts 13 between which and the under side of the lug 12, and encircling the plunger 1|. is a spring 14 which normally tends to tighten the brake band 66 on the drum 51 to prevent rotation of the drum.

By means of the nuts 13 the tightening or loosening of the spring 14 may be adjusted in any preferred manner so as to vary the maximum braking action of the band 68 on the brake drum surface 59 of the drum 51.

Intermediate the eye48 and the spool 56 the thread passes around a floating guide roller 15. The guide roller 15 is rotatably mounted on a stud 16, Fig.1, which is carried by the outer free Figs. (Sand '7. The lever 88 is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending spindle 8| which is secured at its opposite ends respectively in lugs 82 and 83 projecting vertically from the base ;3| of the carrier 30.

Pivotally mounted on the spindle 8| with the drop lever 88 is a catch lever 85, Figs. 3, 6, '1 and 8, which lever is provided with a head 86 in which is formeda V shaped groove 81, Figs. 8 and 11. The V-shaped groove 81 is adapted to engage the ,beveled or converging sides 88, 88, of the disc 6| adjacent the peripheral edge ofthe disc. The

catch lever 85 is provided with a lug or arm 89, Fig. 7, in which is mounted an abutment screw 90. The abutment screw 90 is adapted to rest normally on the upper surface of a second lug 9| carried by and extending laterally from one side of the drop lever 80. A spring 92 is pro-- vided to normally maintain'contact between the end of the abutment screw 98 and the upper surface of the lug 9|.

The tension on the binding thread passing from the spool 58 around the roller 15 and through the eye 48 of the carrier 30, by reason of the lug l9 engaging the under side of the drop lever 88,

keeps the outer end of the drop lever 80 in contact with the downwardly projecting end of the plunger 7!.

Raising of the drop lever 80 and the lug 9| thereon, until the outer end of the drop lever 88 engages the lower end of the plunger TI, and the raising of the abutment screw 90 of the catch lever 85, causes the catch lever 85 to be maintained in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1.

When the feeding tension on the thread passing through the eye 48 from the spool 50 becomes greater than the rewinding tension due to the potential energy stored in spring 66, the control lever 71 is rocked about its pivot which in turn rocks the drop lever 80 about its pivot until the outer end thereof raises the plunger H slightly against the action of the brake-tightening spring 14. This permits the drum 5! to slip with respect to the brake band, the drum being rotated in the direction of the arrow 1/, Fig. l, by the fully wound spring 66, which may result in the paying-out of a certain small amount of thread from the spool 50, due to the driving momentum of the spring 66 and the released drum 57.

At such time as the feeding tension is relieved from the thread, the control lever H rocks in an opposite direction under the influence of the brake-setting spring 14 and under the influence of the lever 89, the weight of which latter member is sufficient to overcome the action of a spring 93 which in turn is wound around the hub of the lever 11 and which exerts a biasing force on the 'lever 12 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 18, as viewed in Figs. 1 and '7. Thus the brake 68 is again set and further rotation of the drum is prevented.

Should the tension on the thread be further relieved as by a movement of the carrier 38, from an extreme outer point in the braiding course toward a central point directly under the braiding point of the machine, the spool 58 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow w, Fig. 1, by the thread-tensioning spring which will still maintain a definite tension on the thread.

Should the thread suddenly become subnormally slack or break, the control lever 11 would be moved outwardly still further by the Weight of the lever until the lower surface of the lug T9 of said lever Tl comes to rest on the upper surface of base 3! of the carrier 38; the spring 93 meanwhile cushioning the drop of levers 11 and 80 in manner necessary to effect smooth operation of the brake elements 60 and 85. In so doing the drop lever 88 would be permitted to drop and the lug 9| thereon would move from under the" abutment screw 90 of the catch lever 85, whereupon the catch lever would be rotated about its pivot, with its head 86 moving in the direction toward and finally'engaging the edge of the disc 61, by the catch lever spring 92. Since thedistance between the axis of the spool 50 and the axis of the pivot 8| of the catch lever 85 may, preferably, be less than the sum of the radius of the periphery of the disc 6| and the radius from 8| to the bottom of the V-shaped groove 81 in the head of the catch lever 85, the catch lever will become jammed against the disc in such a manner as to prevent further rotation of the disc 6| under the influence of the spring 66; This also prevents further rotation of the spool 50, due to the connection between the disc GI and the flange 52 of thespool, such relative positions of these elements being clearly disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8.

When the above condition arises the outer end of the drop lever 80 effects actuation of the stop ,drop lever will be in a position adjacent-the upper surface of the race-plate 3, to trip a stop lever.

From the foregoing it will be understood that potential yarn rewinding energy is stored in the spring 66, during unwinding rotation of the package, said energy maintaining' a substantially uniform tension on the thread-both during unwinding and re-winding of the spool 50. It follows that upon increase of the tension on the yarn beyond this maximum degree of potential energy stored up in spring 66, its winding action on the hub 56 ceases, then the drop lever 80 is rocked about its pivot thereby raising the plunger H and permitting the drum 51 to slip with respect to the brake band. The tension on the compression spring 14 is preferably so set that it will operate to release the brake drum, in the aforesaid manner,

immediately upon increase of the yarn tension above the maximum degree of potential energy stored in the spring 66.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A braiding carrier comprising a standard, a bobbin thereon, mechanism on the standard adjacent said bobbin including a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin, and separate means on the standard associated with the bobbin and controlled by said tension control member for revvinding the thread and maintaining a substantially uniform tension on the thread.

2. A braiding carrier comprising a standard, a bobbin thereon, mechanism on the standard adjacent said bobbin including a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin, and separate adjustable means on the standard adjacent to the bobbin and controlled by said tension control member for rewinding the thread and constantly maintaining a substantially uniform tension on the thread.

3. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable in both directions; resilient means for establishing potential energy to rotate said package in one direction during rotation thereof in the opposite direction, a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin; and separate means including a brake drum and band cooperating with said tension control member for determining the amount of energy so developed.

4. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon; resilient means for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation of the package, a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin; and separate means including a brake drum and band cooperating with said tension control member for determining the amount of energy so developed.

5. A braiding carrier comprising .in combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon; resilient means for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation of the package, a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin; and separate means including a brake drum and a springtensioned brake band cooperating with said tension control member for determining the amount of energy so developed.

6. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon, a rotary element at one end of the package, a

spring for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation of the package having its opposite ends secured to the package and the rotary element respectively, means normally holding said rotary element against rotation, and means controlled by the thread for releasing the rotary element for limiting the amount of energy so developed.

'7. A braiding carrier comprisingin combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon; a drum at one end of the package, a spring for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation of the-package having one end secured to the package and its opposite end secured to the drum, a brake normally holding the drum against rotation; and means controlled by the thread for slipping the brake for limiting the amount of energy so developed.

8. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn package mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon, braking means including a rotatable element at one end .of the package, a spring for establishing potential yarn rewinding energy during unwinding rotation and having a driving relationship with said rotatable element, a lever actuating the brake; and means controlled by the thread for controlling the actuations of the brake lever for limiting the amount of energy so developed.

9. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a thread package rotatably mounted on the carrier, a drum at one end of the package, a spring having one'end secured to the package and its opposite end secured to the drum, a brake "releasably holding the drum against rotation, a lever actuating the brake, and a lever controlled by the thread for actuating the brake lever to relieve tension on the thread.

16. A braiding carrier comprising in combination. a thread package rotatably mounted on the carrier, a drum at one end of the package, a spring having one end secured to the package and'its opposite end secured to the drum, a brake normally holding the drum releasably against rotation, a lever actuating the brake, a lever controlled by the threadfor actuating the brake lever to relievetension onthe thread, and means controlled .by e thread-controlled lever for arresting rotation of the package under subnormal tension of the thread.

11. -A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn-containing spool mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon, a disc at one end of the spool and rotatable therewith, a catch lever engageable with said disc, a rotary element on the carrier, a brake normally holding the rotary element against rotation, a thread-tensiomng spring having its opposite ends attached to the disc and the rotary element respectively, a lever actuating the brake, and a lever controlled by the thread and actuating the brake and catch levers, respectively, at predetermined tension conditions of the thread.

12. A-braiding carrier comprising in combination, a yarn-containing spool mounted so as to be rotatable for unwinding and rewinding the yarn thereon, a disc at one end of the spool and rotatable therewith, a catch lever engageable with said disc, a rotary element on the carrier, a brake on the carrier normally holding the rotary element releasably, said brake normally holding the rotary element against rotation, a thread-tensioning spring having its opposite ends attached to the disc and the rotary element respectively, a lever controlling the brake and the catch levers, respectively, under predetermined tension conditions of the thread, and a braiding machine stop-actuating lever operative upon the breaking of the thread.

13. A braiding carrier comprising a braiding machine stop-actuator element, a standard, a bobbin on said standard, mechanism on the standard adjacent said bobbin including a member for controlling the tension of a strand feeding from the bobbin, means on the standard associated with the bobbin for rewinding the thread and maintaining a substantially uniform tension of the thread, said tension control means releasing the stop-actuator element for operation upon the breaking of the strand.

14. A braiding carrier comprising a base plate and vertical standards thereon, a horizontal spindle supported by the standards, a thread spool rotatably mounted on the spindle, a disc at one end of the spool and rotatable about the axis of the spindle together with the spool, a drum adjacent the disc and rotatable about the axis of the spindle, a brake acting against the drum to prevent rotation of the drum, a spring having its opposite ends attached to the drum and disc re spectively and tending to rotate the disc and spool counter-directionally to normal unwinding of the thread from the spool, a drop lever pivoted to the carrier and having one end normally actuating the brake, a lever pivoted to the carrier and operatively engaging the drop lever and controlled by the thread in its unwinding from the spool, to raise the drop lever and entirely release the brake under predetermined tension conditions of the thread.

15. A braiding carrier comprising a base plate and vertical standards thereon, a horizontal spindle supported by the standards, a thread spool rotatably mounted on the spindle, a disc at one end of the spool and rotatable about the axis of the spindle with the spool, a drum adjacent the disc and rotatable about the axis of the spindle, a brake acting against the drum to prevent rotation of the drum normally, a spring having its opposite ends attached to the drum and disc respectively and tending to rotate the disc and spool counter-directionally to normal unwinding of the thread from the spool, a drop lever pivoted to the carrier and having one end normally engaging the brake, a lever pivoted to the carrier and operatively engaging the drop lever and controlled by the thread in its unwinding from the spool to raise the drop lever and release the brake when the thread is excessively tensioned and a catch lever engageable with the disc and controlled by the drop lever to arrest the counterdirectional rotation of the spool when the drop lever is lowered under subnormal tensioning of the thread.

16. A braiding carrier comprising in combination, a thread package rotatably mounted on the carrier, a drum at one end of the package, a spring having one end secured to the package and its opposite end secured to the drum, a brake normally holding the drum against rotation, a lever actuating the brake, braiding machine stopactuator means associated with said brake lever, and a thread tensioning lever for actuating the brake lever and stop-actuator means when the 10 tension on the yarn reaches predetermined limits.

JUDSON A. COOK. 

